Some things to expect and watch out for
Jan 28 '00 (Updated Sep 29 '00)
To transfer well: know your goals, prepare, read and re-read and re-read again, talk to many counselors, and research.
There are some unique challenges for the person who attends a community or junior college (JC) and then transfers to a four year university. It is common for many to graduate from a four year university in five years, even without transferring. Many people attend community colleges for three or more years before transferring. It can be very difficult under these conditions for the transfer student to make his or her personal graduation goals.
My tips are hidden in experience and will not help every transfer student because of differences in major, focus, and preparation. These will make a tremendous impact on choices. My personal history is this: I attended a two year college and then transferred to a four year public university, both in California. I graduated in four years total with a 3.8, majoring in Liberal Studies with an Sociology major emphasis and a Business Administration emphasis.
Focus was important. Without this focus, I would not have worked so hard to find someone to give me the "right" answer to allow me to do what needed to be done to achieve my academic goals. I began my college career with the intention of graduating in two years from a junior college, and then graduating from the next school in another two. I succeeded.
To achieve this goal, I talked to as many people as I could. At the JC, I found that each counselor had a different slant to how he (they were all male) did his work. One was specifically for transferring students, one helped me plan my future, one helped me get the classes I wanted and out of those I didn't. Each one knew different requirements of different schools and different programs.
I chose the easiest route to transfer. JCs will have transfer agreements set up with universities. I decided to go to a University of California school, and took the classes required of me. When that was done, I filled in the space with electives that would (hopefully) satisfy major requirements, or fill in areas if I found some unpleasant surprises waiting for me after transferring. I took some fun classes as well (theater, art history, track, volleyball) which I have never regretted.
Even so, I found out after I transferred that not all the classes I took counted the way I had expected them too. I also had to take several freshman intro courses, which made a lot of upperclassmen think I was one myself.
I changed my major since the program was impacted, and then found out that I needed a foreign language. Oops. Almost didn't graduate. The frustrating thing about that was that I had talked to numerous counselors (same as at the junior college) who all told me I didn't have to worry. KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS. Review all printed guidelines.
Counselors also do not necessarily know what is best for you, or even some rules governing your status as a transfer student. I spent several meetings with counselors explaining that there had been an error (or errors) and I was exempt from or had satisfied this, that, or the other requirement.
I took a huge workload and balanced hard academia with lighter courses. I sweetly smiled at the counselors during registration and said, "Could you please raise the cap on the credits I can take. See they raised it last time and I did fine. . . . I promise I will drop if I can't handle it." (pause) "Of course you can do it, just press that button."
This technique will not work for you if you can't demonstrate that you can handle it, or if you have a heavy major. I chose my major because I could manipulate it as I chose. It turned out to be a perfect match for me and my current career.
Enjoy the perks of a university. I liked the campus, the students, the opportunity to talk to people with the same goals and aspirations. Take advantage of internships, art history, student excursions and exchanges. College is what you make of it, so make it count in your present situation and how it will impact your future situations in life.
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